Our Impact

At The Ottawa Mission, our lifechanging programs help those who are homeless and at risk of homelessness to rebuild their lives. In 2017-2018:

Why People Can Become Homelessness

The reasons for homelessness are complex, challenging, and longstanding, including:

Structural, such as: discrimination based on background; lack of affordable housing; and the impact of colonialism and historical trauma on Canada’s First Peoples.

Systemic, such as: barriers to services based on factors such as having a criminal record; and failed transitions from hospital, the correctional system, the child protection system, and the immigration system.

Individual, such as: family instability and violence; and physical and mental disabling conditions.

Homelessness in Ottawa

In 2014, the City of Ottawa adopted a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness that committed to: 1) achieve 40% savings in funding to emergency shelters by 2024; and 2) reinvest these savings into prevention.

Unfortunately, despite efforts, Ottawa is not making progress in ending homelessness. From 2014 – 2017:

Overall shelter use increased by 16%

Overall length of stay increased by 12%

Chronic homelessness increased by 21%

We need to:

Integrate services to reduce pathways into homelessness that place individuals at increased risk of homelessness; and

Prioritize early intervention and supports for homeless individuals focused on long-term housing solutions.

The Ottawa Mission: More than a Shelter

Beginning as an emergency shelter in 1906, our programs and services have expanded over time into a modern service hub with wraparound health and social services to meet the increasing needs of the most vulnerable in our community.

We provide a full range of services and programs to help shelter residents and community members in need, including:

Food, including resident and community meals for those would otherwise go hungry;